Rosalyn Ann Robinson, an 18-year-old African American female, tragically lost her life on July 15, 1999, in Woodloch, Texas. On that fateful day, Larry Allen Hayes, a spree killer, embarked on a violent rampage that resulted in the deaths of two women, including Rosalyn. Hayes first shot and killed his wife, 46-year-old Mary Evelyn Hayes, at their home in Woodloch. Following this, he drove to a nearby convenience store in Grangerland, where Rosalyn was working as a clerk.
Hayes, seeking another vehicle, entered the store and encountered Rosalyn. He pointed a gun at her and ordered her to follow him outside. The store's security camera captured the encounter, showing Hayes holding a gun to Rosalyn's head and ordering her out of the store and into her car. As they prepared to leave, a customer approached in a vehicle, distracting Hayes. Rosalyn seized the opportunity to try and escape, but Hayes shot her as she attempted to flee and then fatally shot her at point-blank range in the head. The killing was captured on surveillance video.
Larry Allen Hayes was arrested and charged with capital murder for the deaths of both Mary Evelyn Hayes and Rosalyn Ann Robinson. Hayes waived all appeals and was convicted of capital murder. He was executed via lethal injection in 2003. His execution drew attention as it was noted by the Associated Press that he was the first white person to be executed in Texas for killing a black person. Hayes admitted his guilt from the beginning and expressed remorse for his actions, stating that he wished the families of his victims could find peace.
The case of Rosalyn Ann Robinson's murder was a significant event in Montgomery County, Texas, and highlighted issues of racial violence and the criminal justice system. Hayes' actions and subsequent execution were widely covered in the media, and the case remains a tragic reminder of the senseless violence that claimed the lives of two women.
